6:37 p.m.: Oliver Perez is stretching out in right centerfield, getting ready to make his second start of the season. It's a wonder no one is booing him yet. When do you think he'll be booed first -- when he is introduced before the game, when he takes the mound, or sometime later? Guess right and we'll give you free, unlimited access to NJ.com's Mets coverage.

While talking about Perez before the game, Mets manager Jerry Manuel said, "New York has a way of letting you know when you're not doing well."

6:47 p.m.: Both teams are lined up along the first and third base lines as the pre-game Jackie Robinson tribute is about to begin. They had the official dedication ceremony for the Robinson Rotunda earlier Wednesday at Citi Field, and Manuel spoke pretty sincerely about what it means to him before the game.

"It's quite a thrill," Manuel said. "It's great recognition for an icon, a hero, for me, I celebrate Jackie Robinson every day, every game. That's the reason that I wear my pants up. I got the skinniest legs in all of baseball, and I wear my pants high. The only reason I wear them high is because of Jackie Robinson. Once the game starts, I pull my pants up, and I dedicate that day, so for me it's an every day thing."

7:19 p.m.: Marlon Anderson has cleared waivers, a Mets spokesman said. Anderson, who was designated for assignment Saturday, now can either accept a minor-league assignment or become a free agent.

7:23 p.m.: Good news: Daniel Murphy made two catches with no problem in left field in the first inning. Bad news: He needs a little work on his throws. After catching Brian Giles' fly to left, Murphy overthrew the cutoff man, David Wright, at third. The ball bounced off Oliver Perez, who was backing up third, and ended up near the Mets' dugout, allowing Scott Hairston to advance to third. Fortunately for the Mets, Perez struck out Adrian Gonzalez to end the inning.

7:47 p.m.: Lots of camera lights flickering in the stands for Gary Sheffield's first at-bat in the second inning. But nothing worth taking a picture of. Sheffield strikes out. He is now hitless in three at-bats with the Mets.

8:21 p.m.: Don't look now, but Oliver Perez is putting together one heck of a game (disclaimer: with him, that could change before I finish typing this) Just one hit allowed and no runs in four innings, with four strikeouts and two walks. Pitch count at 58.

8:31 p.m.: With that RBI single to right, Beltran extends his hitting streak to 13 games, dating to last season.

8:32 p.m.: Another lackluster at-bat for Sheffield, who grounds into a double play. Why did the Tigers release him?

8:43 p.m.: The Mets like what Murphy gives them with his bat, but they're paying the price with his defense right now. Another bad throw, as he picks up the ball on Hairston's single to left and throws it into the ground in front of Jose Reyes, whose throw home is not in time to beat Luis Rodriguez at the plate.

9:13 p.m.: That'll do it for Perez. His line: six innings, three hits, one earned run, two walks, four strikeouts. He threw 90 pitches, 57 for strikes. Typical Ollie -- awful his first start, very effective in the next one. The next one after this, who knows?

9:40 p.m.: It always helps when the other team implodes, which is what the Padres are doing in the bottom of the seventh. That's three runs scored on wild pitches in one inning for the Mets.

9:48 p.m.: More boos for "Sweet Caroline." And while that's playing, the Mets just announced tonight's attendance: 35,581. Second game in their new ballpark, and it's not a sellout.

9:59 p.m.: Brian Schneider is off to a terrible start offensively. His groundout into a double play to end the eighth inning drops his average to .143.

10:10 p.m.: Sean Green gives up a homer in the ninth, but the Mets still get their first regular-season win at Citi Field. More from the clubhouse later.